1) To Do Things You're Not Supposed ToThe decisions we make at every stage come from an intuitive place; we are inspired simply by our own natural, uninterrogated excitement about an idea. We also want to inspire audiences and readers – through the provocative ideas raised in the productions, of course, but also through their sheer existence. Highly motivated by the challenge of doing something new and defying expectations, we push ourselves to the limits. We ask scientists and artists to act. We create masses of original work in a matter of weeks, for unknown new audiences, with no funds. If there's something we're told we can't do, we want to do it. The prevailing idea seems to be that the best work corresponds to the most money – and yet, here we are! We're here to show that something very special, something we've been told isn't possible, just about is.

2) To Prove A New Kind of Show There are various problems with the current 'conference' scene as it stands in relation to artistic and design concepts, and creative technology. Unjustifiable ticket prices, profound cults of personality, cliques, and elitist intellectualisation keep the community small, hostile to fresh ideas, and impenetrable to newcomers. These powerful platforms for new or unusual talent unfortunately require an exceptional sequence of coincidences or compromises to access. By offering portals into fantastical alternate realities, Hack Circus aims to demonstrate an alternative 'conference' model based around irreverent performance, challenging interactions and dark, but good-natured fun.

3) To Make Real Things – FastIsn't it well known that we should invest our time and money on experiences? Real life audiences are up for grabs and whatever happens with digital, we are humans, and bound to our physicality. We could create generic digital content to be beamed into eyeballs from the screen, but there's no shortage of that. Besides, any new, independent content aggregator is going to struggle to pay for itself. These days, if you're going to make something worth selling, you've got to really make something. Designers have always known it; beautiful design – beautiful objects – they persist, steadily, no matter what. With digital projects, you'll always be on a screen, but the physical world is unlimited. Who knows what we might make next and how it might crash into your world?

4) To Demonstrate IndependenceThe media we generally, unconsciously assume is 'free' is enormously compromised. Mainstream press outlets and art funding processes are not motivated by quality but entirely created by the related quests for money and approval. Advertising and sponsors eventually get the better of everything, and realistic alternatives to publicity motivated by cash are scant. But we're not for sale. We think we have something really good, really original, and really free – and we want to hang onto that freedom for as long as we can. We publicise what we know to be good. As a highly-curated project, we never invite contributions from our host venues or run advertorials etc. We want to demonstrate that independence from governing influences is important, and possible. Hack Circus is committed to quality of ideas and free from constant, crushing institutional compromise. Our aim is to stay that way.